Order Code 98-45 C
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Commemorative Observances:
A Chronological List
Updated December 19, 2003
Glenda Richardson
Information Research Specialist
Information Research Division
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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Commemorative Observances:
A Chronological List
Summary
Historically, national commemorative observances were often recommended by
Congress through the legislative process. This practice was for the most part
discontinued by the House of Representatives in January 1995, although the Senate
continues to issue sense of the Senate resolutions recommending the establishment
of commemoratives. It has now become standard practice for special observances
to be designated by a proclamation issued by the President. A recent noteworthy
departure from current congressional policy is P.L. 107-89, which designates
September 11 as Patriot Day and calls upon the President to issue an annual
proclamation calling on the American people to commemorate Patriot Day. This
report is a chronological list of these proclamations for 2003 and 2004, indicating the
proclamation number and its Federal Register citation. This report will be updated
periodically during the year.

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Contents
2003 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Decade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
January . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
February . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
March . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
April . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
June . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
July . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
August . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
September . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
October . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
November . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
December . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
January . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
February . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
March . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
April . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
June . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
July . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
August . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
September . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
October . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
November . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
December . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

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Commemorative Observances:
A Chronological List
Historically, national commemorative observances were often recommended by
Congress through the legislative process. This practice was for the most part
discontinued by the House of Representatives in January 1995, although the Senate
continues to issue sense of the Senate resolutions recommending the establishment
of commemoratives.
The President has always had the authority to declare by proclamation any
commemorative event or national observance. It has now become standard practice
for special observances to be designated by a proclamation issued by the President
A recent noteworthy departure from current congressional policy is P.L. 107-89,
which designates September 11 as Patriot Day and calls upon the President to issue
an annual proclamation calling upon the American people to commemorate Patriot
Day. Generally these observances are limited to a one-time celebration only, on a
particular day, week, or month of a particular year.
The following is a chronological list of these proclamations for 2003 and 2004,
indicating the proclamation number and its Federal Register (FR) citation.
Except for the perpetual commemoratives indicated in italics below, with their
citations to the U.S. Code (USC), these proclamations (Proc.) must be reissued each
year. Most are issued only shortly before the observance of the event. For this
reason, we are unable to provide a complete advance calendar indicating these days.
We are providing the 2003 list as an indication of the observances that might well be
designated again in 2004.
2003
Decade
National Bone and Joint Decade, 2002-2011
Proc. 7533, 67 FR 13703
January
National Mentoring Month
Proc. 7636, 68 FR 995
13
Centennial of Korean Immigration to the
Proc. 7368, 68 FR 2173
United States
16
National Religious Freedom Day
Proc. 7640, 68 FR 2869

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CRS-2
19
National Sanctity o f Human Life Day
Proc. 7639, 68 FR 2409
February
American Heart Month
36 USC 169b
February each year
Proc. 7644, 68 FR 6055
National African American History Month
Proc. 7645, 68 FR 6057
2-8
National Consumer Protection Week
Proc. 7643, 68 FR 4887
March
American Red Cross Month
Proc. 7648, 68 FR 10641
Irish-American Heritage Month
Proc. 7649, 68 FR 10643
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness
Proc. 7650, 68 FR 10645
Month
Women’s History Month
Proc. 7651, 68 FR 10647
2-8
Save Your Vision Week
36 USC 169a
First week of March each year
Proc. 7652, 68 FR 10649
16-22
National Poison Prevention Week
36 USC 165
Third week of March each year
Proc. 7653, 68 FR 13217
25
Greek Independence Day
Proc. 7654, 68 FR 13805
April
Cancer Control Month
36 USC 150
April each year
Proc. 7655, 68 FR 14887
National Child Abuse Prevention Month
Proc. 1656, 68 FR 15651
National Donate Life Month
Proc. 7658, 68 FR 16403
National Fair Housing Month
Proc. 7664, 68 FR 19135
6-12
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week
Proc. 7569, 68 FR 17253
9
National Former Prisoner of War
Proc. 7660, 68 FR 17873
Recognition Day
10
National D.A.R.E. Day
Proc. 7661, 68 FR 17875
(Drug Abuse Resistance Education)
13
Education and Sharing Day, U.S.A.
Proc. 7662, 68 FR 18081
13-19
Pan American Week
Proc. 7663, 68 FR 18831
14
Pan American Day
Proc. 7663, 68 FR 18831

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CRS-3
21-27
National Park Week
Proc. 7665, 68 FR 19929
27-3
National Charter School Week
Proc. 7666, 68 FR 23021
May
Asian/Pacific-American Heritage Month
36 USC 169k
May each year
Proc. 7668, 68 FR 23821
Older Americans Month
Proc. 7669, 68 FR 23823
1
Law Day
36 USC 164
May 1 each year
Proc. 7670, 68 FR 23825
1
Loyalty Day
36 USC 152
May 1 each year
Proc. 7671, 68 FR 23827
1
National Day of Prayer
36 USC 169h
First Thursday of May each year
Proc. 7672, 68 FR 23829
1-11
Jewish Heritage Week
Proc. 7673, 68 FR 24333
11
Mother’s Day
36 USC 142
Second Sunday in May each year
Proc. 7674, 68 FR 25277
11-17
Police Week
36 USC 167
Week in which Peace Officer Memorial Day
Proc. 7675, 68 FR 26195
falls each year
11-17
National Transportation Week
36 USC 166
Week in which National Defense
Proc. 7676, 68 FR 26197
Transportation Day falls each year
15
Peace Officer Memorial Day
36 USC 167
May 15 each year
Proc. 7675, 68 FR 26195
16
National Defense Transportation Day
36 USC 160
Third Friday in May each year
Proc. 7676, 68 FR 26197
17
Armed Forces Day
Third Saturday in May each Year
17-23
National Safe Boating Week
36 USC 161
Seven-day period prior to the Memorial Day
Proc. 7677, 68 FR 26199
weekend each year
18-24
National Hurricane Awareness Week
Proc. 7678, 68 FR 27427
18-24
World Trade Week
Proc. 7679, 68 FR 27889
22
National Maritime Day
36 USC 145
May 22 each year
Proc. 7689, 68 FR 28687
25
National Missing Children’s Day
Proc. 7682, 68 FR 31937
26
Prayer for Peace Memorial Day
36 USC 169g
Memorial Day each year
Proc. 7681, 68 FR 31935

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CRS-4
June
Black Music Month
Proc. 7687, 68 FR 38167
1
National Child’s Day
Proc. 7683, 68 FR 33339
National Homeownership Month
Proc. 7685, 68 FR 36445
8-14
National Flag Week
36 USC 157a
Week in which June 14 occurs each year
Proc. 7684, 68 FR 34775
14
Flag Day
36 USC 157
June 14 each year
Proc. 7684, 68 FR 34775
15
Father’s Day
36 USC 142a
Third Sunday in June each year
Proc. 7686, 68 FR 36447
July
1
30th Anniversary of the All-Volunteer Force
Proc. 7690, 68 FR 40115
20-26
Captive Nations Week
P.L. 86-90
Third week in July each year
Proc. 7691, 68 FR 43455
27
National Korean War Veterans Armistice
36 USC 169m
Day
Proc. 7692, 68 FR 44449
July 27 each year until 2003
27
Parents’ Day
36 USC 142c
Fourth Sunday of July each year
Proc. 7693, 68 FR 44849
August
26
Women’s Equality Day
Proc. 7695, 68 FR 51673
September
National Alcohol and Drug Addiction
Proc. 7698, 68 FR 52825
Recovery Month
National Hispanic Heritage Month
36 USC 159f
September 15 through October 15 each year
Proc. 7706, 68 FR 55253
National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
Proc. 7699, 68 FR 52827
National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
Proc. 7700, 68 FR 52829
11
Patriot Day
36 USC 144
September 11 each year
Proc. 7702, 68 FR 53013
14-20
National Historically Black Colleges and
Proc. 7703, 68 FR 54321
Universities Week

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CRS-5
14-20
Small Business Week
Proc. 7704, 68 FR 54323
17
Citizenship Day
36 USC 153
September 17 each year
Proc. 7705, 68 FR 54977
17-23
Constitution Week
36 USC 159
Week beginning September 17 and ending
Proc. 7705, 68 FR 54977
September 23 each year
19
National POW/MIA Recognition Day
Proc. 7707, 68 FR 55259
21-27
National Farm Safety and Health Week
Proc. 7708, 68 FR 56511
22
Family Day
Proc. 7697, 68 FR 52313
28
Gold Star Mother’s Day
36 USC 148
Last Sunday in September each year
Proc. 7709, 68 FR 56513
28-
Minority Enterprise Development Week
Proc. 7710, 68 FR 56521
10/4
October
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Proc. 7711, 68 FR 58251
National Disability Employment Awareness
36 USC 155
Month
Proc. 7712, 68 FR 58253
October each year
National Domestic Violence Awareness
Proc. 7717, 68 FR 59079
Month
5-11
Fire Prevention Week
Proc. 7713, 68 FR 58255
6
Child Health Day
36 USC 143
First Monday in October each year
Proc. 7716, 68 FR 58573
6
German-American Day
Proc. 7715, 68 FR 58259
9
Leif Erikson Day
36 USC 169c
October 9 each year
Proc. 7718, 68 FR 59305
11
General Pulaski Memorial Day
Proc. 7721, 68 FR 59517
12-18
Marriage Protection Week
Proc. 7714, 68 FR 58257
12-18
National School Lunch Week
36 USC 168
Week beginning on the second Sunday in
Proc. 7719, 68 FR 59513
October each year
15
White Cane Safety Day
36 USC 155
October 15 each year
Proc. 7722, 68 FR 59853
16-
Protection From Pornography Week
Proc. 7725, 68 FR 61603
11/1
19-25
National Character Counts Week
Proc. 7724, 68 FR 60615

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CRS-6
19-25
National Forest Products Week
36 USC 163
Week beginning on the third Sunday of
Proc. 7723, 68 FR 60613
October each year
24
United Nations Day
Proc. 7726, 68 FR 61605
November
National Adoption Month
Proc. 7731, 68 FR 64483
National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness
Proc. 7728, 68 FR 62503
Month
National American Indian Heritage Month
Proc. 7735, 68 FR 65153
National Family Caregivers Month
Proc. 7730, 68 FR 62507
National Diabetes Month
Proc. 7729, 68 FR 62505
National Hospice Month
Proc. 7727, 68 FR 62351
9
World Freedom Day
Proc. 7732, 68 FR 64485
15
America Recycles Day
Proc. 7734, 68 FR 64977
16-22
National Employer Support of the Guard and
Proc. 7736, 68 FR 65155
Reserve Week
21-27
National Farm-City Week
Proc. 7737, 68 FR 65627
23-29
National Family Week
Proc. 7739, 68 FR 66319
December
7
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
36 USC 169
December 7 each year
17
Wright Brothers Day
36 USC 169
December 17 each year

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CRS-7
2004
January
February
American Heart Month
36 USC 169b
February each year
March
1-6
Save Your Vision Week
36 USC 169a
First week of March each year
14-20
National Poison Prevention Week
36 USC 165
Third week of March each year
April
Cancer Control Month
36 USC 150
April each year
May
Asian/Pacific-American Heritage Month
36 USC 169k
May each year
1
Law Day
36 USC 164
May 1 each year
1
Loyalty Day
36 USC 152
May 1 each year
6
National Day of Prayer
36 USC 169h
First Thursday of May each year
9
Mother’s Day
36 USC 142
Second Sunday in May each year
Proc. 7557, 67 FR 34583
9-15
National Transportation Week
36 USC 166
Week in which National Defense
Transportation Day falls each year
9-15
Police Week
36 USC 167
Week in which Peace Officer Memorial Day
falls each year
15
Armed Forces Day
Third Saturday in May each year

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CRS-8
21
National Defense Transportation Day
36 USC 160
Third Friday in May each year
22
National Maritime Day
36 USC 145
May 22 each year
Proc. 7565, 67 FR 36495
24-30
National Safe Boating Week
36 USC 161
Seven-day period prior to the Memorial Day
weekend each year
31
Prayer for Peace Memorial Day
36 USC 169g
Memorial Day each year
June
14
Flag Day
36 USC 157
June 14 each year
13-19
National Flag Week
36 USC 157a
Week in which June 14 occurs each year
20
Father’s Day
36 USC 142a
Third Sunday in June each year
July
17-23
Captive Nations Week
P.L. 86-90
Third Week in July each year
25
Parents’ Day
36 USC 169m
Fourth Sunday of July each year
August
September
National Hispanic Heritage Month
36 USC 159f
September 15 through October 15 each year
11
Patriot Day
36 USC 144Proc. 7590, 67
September 11 each year
17
Citizenship Day
36 USC 153
September 17 each year
17-23
Constitution Week
36 USC 159
Week of September 17-23 each year
26
Gold Star Mother’s Day
36 USC 148
Last Sunday in September each year

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CRS-9
October
National Disability Employment Awareness
36 USC 155
Month October each year
4
Child Health Day
36 USC 143
First Monday in October each year
9
Leif Erikson Day
36 USC 169c
October 9 each year
10-16
National School Lunch Week
36 USC 168
Week beginning on the second Sunday in
October
15
White Cane Safety Day
36 USC 155
October 15 each year
17-23
National Forest Products Week
36 USC 163
Week beginning on the third Sunday in
October each year
November
December
7
National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
36 USC 169
December 7 each year
17
Wright Brothers Day
36 USC 169
December 17 each year

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